Oscillating print wheels on movable carriage



Oct. 6, 1964 a. w. R. HORNAUER ETAL 3,151,547

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 6Sheets-Sheet 1 A) INVENTOR.

F I (5. IA GU/VTE/l HO/WVAI/Efi H0135 7' DE/VZ/N syyzi Z Oct. 6, 1964 a.w. R. HORNAUER ETAL 3,151,547

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS 0N MOVABLE CARRIAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.16, 1962 'FlGJB Oct. 6, 1964 e. w. R. HORNAUER ETAL 3,

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.16, 1962 AQN Oct. 6, 1964 s. w. R. HORNAUER ETAL 3,151,547

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.16, 1962 IN VZDV TOR.

auA/TER Ho/m A 1/51? HORST DEA/Z/A/ Oct. 6, 1964 e. w. R. HORNAUER ETAL3,151,547

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS 0N MOVABLE CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 eSheets$heet 5 Fl QAA INVENTOR. ours/r HORA/AUE/i' HORST oe'A/z/A/ 1964a. w. R. HORNAUER ETAL 3,

OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELS ON MOVABLE CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 16, 1962 6Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,151,547 OSCILLATING PRINT WHEELSON MOVABLE CARRIAGE Gunter Wilhelm Robert Hornauer, Berlin-Rudow,

and Horst Georg Gunter Denzin, Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany, assignors toHamann Rechenmaschinen G.m.b.H., Berlin, Germany, a corporation ofGermany Filed Jan. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 166,567 Claims priority,application Germany Jan. 27, 1961 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-96) The presentinvention relates to printing mechanisms, and more particularly concernsprint-out devices for calculating machines.

The spacing between the orders of a printed figure normally correspondsto the spacing of the ordinal elements of the calculating system. Onemethod of reducing the space between the orders of the printed figure isto use converging levers; however, this expedient is limited in itsapplication. The practical objections are that only a limited number oforders can be accommodated, the partsrequired are bulky as well asexpensive, and the reduction in the spacing between the orders of thefigure printed on the tape is limited by the width of the ordinalprinting member-s.

A further characteristic of known printing mechanisms is that a printhammer is used in order to insure a clean print and to afford thepossibility of suppressing nonsignificant zeros which precede theprinted figure. Such print hammer mechanisms require a great number ofparts, and the print hammer springs must be reset after each printingoperation. Finally, resetting of the hammers imposes rather undesirablepeak loads on the motor and articulated linkages.

According to the present invention a mechanism is provided whereby thespacing between the printed orders may be reduced at will to anypredetermined distance, even to the magnitude of zero, if that should bedesired. This is accomplished by locating a plurality of printingelements on one carriage, a single rotating print hammer on a secondcarriage, and correlating the movement of the carriages in continuous,counter-directional and proportional movements. Printing is accomplishedby the consecutive actuation of the several printing elements andimposes a uniform load on motor and bearings. Shifting of the carriagesat a speed of 8 to milliseconds per order has been found practicable,and this permits the printing of 12 orders within 96 to 180milliseconds. This constitutes an advantage even over mechanisms whichprint all orders simultaneously, because resetting is'not required.

It is therefore a main object to provide an improved, high speed,printing mechanism.

Another object is to minimize the spacing between adjacent printedcharacters.

Another object is to print a number in a spacewhich is less than theaggregate width of the printing members.

Still another object is to print a numeral against a stationary platenby moving the ordinal printing elements and a single print hammertransversely relatively to the platen.

A further object is to attain the last mentioned object and to move theprinting elements relative to the print hammer. I x

A still further object is to terminate the printing operationautomatically under the control of a zero non-print suppressionmechanism.

Further objects and advantages will occur from the followingdescription, given by way of example only,

3,151,547 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 Ice when read in conjunction withreference to the following drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are combined to form a partially exploded isometric viewof the printing mechanism as seen from the right front of the machine;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are views, partially in section, as seen from the rightside of the machine, and showing the printing mechanism in variousstages of operation;

FIGS. 2A, 3A and 4A are views as seen from the front of the machine, ofthe structure shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a print wheel detent mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a right side view showing a print wheel in contact with theribbon, paper and platen; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the printing mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a printing mechanism is disposed betweentwo fixed frame members 12 and 13. A plurality of members 1 is mountedfor rocking movement on a shaft 14, within a frame 3, and maintained byspring clips 15 and a guide comb 16 (FIG. 2) in uniform spacing whichcorresponds to the spacing of the entry gears 17 of a calculatingmechanism in a manner well known in the art. The printing members 1carry printing dials 19 (FIG. 1B) which are rotatable about pivots 18.The frame 3 comprises a first carriage which is slidably disposed on ashaft 20 and under the urgency of a spring 21 normally contacts an ear12a. A gear rack 5, riveted to the frame 3, cooperates with a doublegear 6, 6a, the latter of which is engaged with a rack 7. It will beobvious that any lateral movement of the frame 3 wil result in acounter-directional lateral movement of the rack 7. A frame 4 comprisesa second carriage which is integral with rack 7 and embraces a printhammer 2, slidably disposed on a shaft 8.

The lateral movement of the carriages 3 and 4, as well as the rotationof the print hammer 2 is accomplished by means of the shaft 8. A drivecylinder 9 is fixed on the shaft 8 by means of pins, having on its outersurface a convolute groove 94: which is engaged by a nose 10a of afollower 10. The latter is pivoted on shaft 11 which is riveted to thecarriage 3. Therefore, movement of follower 10 and shaft 11 moves thecarriage 3 and the print members 1 to the right. At the same time, dueto the functional relationship between the carriage 3, rack 5, gear 6,6a, and rack 7, the carriage 4 and the print hammer 2 are moved to theleft. In the embodiment described here, the rise in the groove 9a isarranged to advance the print hammer 2 one print space to the left per/a revolution of the shaft 8.

Since the individual orders of a number are printed consecutively, thespeed of the printing operation is reduced by not printingnon-significant zeros. For this purpose a disabling lever 28 is providedin each ordinal printing system 1 (FIGS. 1B and 2), each lever beingfreely mounted on the shaft 14. A latch 30, pivoted at y 29 on eachlever 28, may assume two positions, in one of which an ear 30a (FIG. 2A)lies in the same rotational plane with an ear 1b of the print member 1so that clockwise rotation of the print member 1 results in a similarclockwise rocking of the disabling lever 28. The disabling lever 28 hasa sensing projection 28a which cooperates with sensing disc 31 which isintegral with an intermediate gear 32. The sensing disc 31 has a notch31a which is so arranged that it underlies the'sensing projection 28a ofthe disabling lever 28 when the respective entry gear 17 and the engagedintermediate gear 32 stand in the value position representing 0. Theintermediate gears 32 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 34 carried by arocking frame 35.

An ear 30b (FIGS. 3 and 3A) of the latch 36 engages a respective ear 280of the disabling lever 23 in the next lower order and forms thus thetransfer bridge for all orders lying to the right of an entered value.If, by means of the sensing projection 28a, the disabling lever 28 islifted, it carries a respective latch 34) along, and the ear 30b of thelatch 30 which has been so lifted carries the car 280 in adjoining lowerorder, so that the disabling lever 28 in the next lower order is alsolifted unless it is already in a lifted position due to the action ofthe sensing nose 28a in its own order.

Gears 22 are attached to respective elements 19 (FIG. 5) which areengaged by detents 66 rotatably mounted on shaft 14 and urged by springs67 against a shaft 68, the latter being fixed within the carriage 3.FIGS. 3, 3A, 4 and 4A show the detents engaged with gears 22 of theprinting elements 19, for the purpose of securing the position of theelements 19 during the printing operation. At the same time the force ofeach spring 67 urges a respective printing system 1 counterclockwiseagainst a bail 37.

A cam edge 28b (FIG. 3) of the disabling lever 23 cooperates with a. bar40 (FIG. 1B) in a rocker 42 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 29.The rocker 42 is urged by a spring 64 into the normal position shown inFIG. 1B in which it is locked by a latch 62 (FIG. 1A) engaging an ear42a. In this locked position, a lever 43, on the bar 40, withdraws thenose A of the follower lt) from the groove 90 of the drive cylinder 9.Likewise, a locking latch 46, which pivots on a shaft 45, is rotatedclockwise by connecting link 44 and releases an ear 47a of a latch 47.

The shaft 8 is driven by means of a clutch 48 of conventional design.The clutch 48 is activated by a slip clutch 49 which is rotatedclockwise. A pin 53 on clutch 49 contacts a cam edge 54a of a lever 54on a shaft 65, moving a link 55 and the latch 47 to engage clutch 48.The rotation of the clutch 49 is temporarily arrested by a clutch dog 56which responds to spring 57 as long as the carriage 3 stands out of itsinitial position. Upon return of carriage 3 to the position shown, a pin58 on frame 3 contacts a hook member 59 and through linkages (not shown)draws a link 60 and the clutch dog 56 from engagement with clutch 49. Atsuch time the clutch moves counterclockwise to a position where it isengaged by a main clutch dog 50.

The bail 37 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 69 which is fixed in thecarriage 3. A spring 33 urges the bail 37 into the position shown inFIG. 1B; however, the bail 37 is also controlled by a mechanism (notshown) driven by the control clutch 49 which rocks the bail 37counterclockwise into a second position where the bail 37 locks theprint elements 1 in the position shown in FIG. 2 for the purpose oftransfer of values.

A second purpose served by the bail 37 is that of rocking the latches 30counterclockwise against the force of springs 70 (FIG. 4) or, by thesame token, to serve as a rest for the print elements 1 in theirelevated position.

The operation of the printing mechanism shall now be described withreference to the printing of a number. In the normal position, whenthere are no values in the entry gears 17 of the calculating mechanism,the rocking frame 35 is in the position shown in FIG. 2. The bail 37enters the notch 10 and locks the print element 1 in the position shown.Let it now be assumed that the value 373452 is to be entered andprinted. The first six entry gear segments 17 are rockedcounterclockwise by an entry mechanism which is itself well known. Thevalue representative movement of segments 1'7 is transmitted through theintermediate gears 32 and gears 22 to the print dials, or elements 19,during which movement neither the intermediate gears 32 nor the printdials are impeded.

After the value has been entered into the entry gears 17 of thecalculating mechanisrma clutch lever (FIG.

1) is withdrawn. Clutch 49 thereupon rotates clockwise and initiates thefollowing interactions, given by way of example only, it being notedthat the invention is directed toward the printing process and that themanner of entering values into the printing dials, or elements, is of noparticular significance:

(1) The bail 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is rocked counterclockwise against theurgency of the spring 38 by linkages not shown, until the printingelement 1 is released.

(2) A locking bar 51 in the rocking frame 35 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) is movedto the right and locks all intermediate gears 32.

(3) The rocking frame 35 is rotated clockwise around a shaft 36. Sincethe gears 22 which are attached to the print dials 19 are in mesh withthe intermediate gears 32, this rocking motion moves the print elements1 about shaft 14 into the position of FIGS. 3 and 4. At the same time,the sensing noses 28a of the disabling levers 28 either contact thecircumferences of the sensing discs 31 or enter the notch 31a (FIGS. 3Aand 4A) as the case may be according to previous descriptions. Themovement of the rocking frame 35 therefore results either in moving thedisabling levers 28 into the position shown in FIG. 3 or to that shownin FIG. 4, as the case may be. In the six orders into which the assumednumber has been entered, the levers 28 are moved to the position shownin FIG. 3. In the 7th order, the first to contain a 0, the sensingprojection 28:: enters the notch 31a in the sensing disc 31 (FIGS. 4 and4A) and the disabling lever 28 remains in the position shown in FIG. 4.This lever 28 subsequently serves as a determining factor in terminatingthe printing process.

(4) The bail 37 is now returned to its initial clockwise position byspring 38 (FIG. 1B).

(5) The rocking frame 35 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 2,permitting the intermediate gears 32 to re-engage the entry gears 17.The ears 28c, 30b and the print elements 1 lie on the bail 37.

(6) The locking bar 51is returned to the initial posi tion shown in FIG.2.

(7) The pin 53 (FIG. 1A) on the control clutch 49 engages the clutch 48by means of the lever 54, link and the clutch control lever 47.

(8) The control clutch 49 is disengaged by clutch dog 56.

g The rotation of the clutch 48 initiates the printing operation. Aspreviously described, the nose 10a of the follower 10 follows the groove9a in the drive cylinder 9 and pushes the carriage 3 to the right bymeans of the shaft 11 (FIG. 1A) This results in a rightward movement ofthe rack 5 and, through the dual gear 6, 6a the rack 7 is movedleftward. At such time the carriage 4 for the rotating print hammer 2 ismoved toward the left. The print hammer 2 rotates counterclockwise and,moving into the area of the print member 1, strikes the ear 1a by meansof an arm 2a. This forcibly rotates the print member 1 and its printingelement 19 clockwise until the platen 23 is struck. Thus, the lowestdigit 2 of the number 373452 is printed. As the shaft 8 con tinues torotate it moves the carriage 3 farther toward the right and,correspondingly, the print hammer 2 farther toward the left until an arm2b of the print hammer 2 strikes the ear 1a of the member 1 in thesecond order, causing again a forcible rotation and printing of thedigit 5. The shaft 8 continues to rotate and to shift the carriage 3 andthe print hammer 2 until the position is reached in which an arm 20strikes the ear 1a of the member 1 in the third order, causing theprinting of the digit 4. The remaining orders of the number are printedin the same fashion. After all digits of the numher have been printed inthis manner, the arm 2a of the print hammer 2 strikes the car 10 of themember 1 in the 7th order (FIG. 4). The car 111 of member 1 strikes theear 3% of the latch 30 which is pivoted on the disabling lever 28. Thedisabling lever 28 is thus rocked clockwise and the cam edge 28b(FIG. 1) strikes the bar 40 of the rocker 42, causing the latter torotate about shaft 20. Since the rocker 42 limits the movement of thebar 40 printing of a zero is prevented and the lever 43 on the bar 40withdraws the nose 10a of the follower 10 from the groove 9a of thedrive cylinder 9. The rocker 42 is locked in this position by the actionof the latch 62 on a shaft 61 which engages an ear 42a. At the same timethe locking latch 46 has been rocked clockwise by a connecting bar 44 torelease the clutch control lever 47. The latter engages the next notch48a and disengages in the clutch 48. The clutch 48 stops and thecarriage 3, now free to move, is pulled into its normal leftmostposition by the spring 21.

In restoring the carriage 3, the spring 21 pulls the pin 58 (FIG. 1B)against the hook 59, deflecting the latter to the left and by means ofconventional linkages, moving the bar 60 against the urgency of thespring 57 for the purpose of disengaging the clutch dog 56 from thenotch 49a of the control clutch 49. The resultant terminal movement ofthe clutch 49 initiates the following (continuing) control functions:

(9) The bail 37 is rocked counterclockwise. This causes the printelements 1 to return into the position shown in FIG. 2, thus moving thegears 22 of the print elements 19 into engagement with the intermediategears 32 and under the control of the entry gears 17.

(10) The latch 62 is rocked counterclockwise by a link 63, releasing therocker 42 and permitting it to return under the force of the spring 64(FIG. 1B) into normal position. It is not necessary to provide aclearing mechanism for the printing mechanism because the printingelements 1 are re-engaged with the entry gears 17 which are subsequentlyreturned to zero in conventional manner.

The printing operation having been completed, the printing mechanism isin its initial position ready to receive subsequent values which are tobe printed.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A printing mechanism for ofiice machines having a framework, printwheels, each settable in a predetermined character representativeposition and each carried on a respective lever, a work sheet mounted insaid framework, and means for compressing printed information on saidwork sheet comprising:

(a) a first carriage in which said print wheels and levers are supportedfor straight line lateral shifting movement relative to said work sheet,

(b) a second carriage supporting a print hammer for straight linelateral shifting movement relative to said work sheet,

() means operable to continuously move the first and second carriageseach at a respective continuous rate of speed relative to the worksheet, and

(d) drive means operable concurrently with said carriage moving means todrive said hammer consecutively into engagement with each and every oneof a plurality of adjacent print wheel levers and to cause each printwheel to print said pre-determined character.

2. A printing mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said first andsecond carriages are continuously moved in opposite directions relativeto the work sheet.

3. A printing mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which the print hammerisslidably mounted upon a shaft driven in timed relationship with saidfirst carriage moving means.

4.. A printing mechanism for ofiice machines having a a framework, aplaten mounted on said framework, and a medium for receiving printedinformation adjacent said platen;

(a) a first carriage mounted for discrete increments of shiftingmovement within. said framework,

(b) a plurality of ordinally arranged members 'pivotally mounted on saidcarriage for movement from a normal position of rest to an activeposition,

(c) a printing element carried by each member, each element beingdifferentially settable and operable upon movement of its respectivemember to an active position to print a character upon said medium,

(d) a second carriage mounted for discrete increments of shiftingmovement within said framework,

(e) a print hammer carried by said secondcarriage,

(f) means for moving said two carriages relative to said platen,

(g) driving means operable to cause said hammer to successively engageand move said members to said active position, the print hammer beingmounted for rotation in said second carriage and striking a memberduring a respective increment of rotation thereof to move said member toactive position, and the rate of rotation of said hammer being such thatit rotates one increment during each increment of shifting movement ofsaid first carriage.

5. A printing mechanism for oflice machines having a framework, a platenmounted on said framework, and a medium for receiving printedinformation adjacent said platen;

(a) a first carriage mounted for discrete increments of shiftingmovement within said framework,

(b) a plurality of ordinally arranged members pivotally mounted on saidcarriage for movement from a normal position of rest to an activeposition,

(c) a printing element carried by each member, each element beingdifferentially settable and operable uponmovement of its respectivemember to an active position to print a character upon said medium,

(d) a second carriage mounted for discrete increments of shiftingmovement within said framework,

(e) a print hammer carried by said second carriage,

(f) means for moving said two carriages relative to said platen,

(g) driving means operable to cause said hammer to successively engageand move said members to said active position, the print hammer beingmounted for rotation in said second carriage and striking a memberduring a respective increment of rotation thereof to move said member toactive position, the rate of rotation of said hammer being such that itrotates one increment during each increment of shifting movement of saidfirst carriage,

(11) means for suppressing the movement of those members carryingelements standing in a non-significant printing mechanism, and

(1') means operable under the control of said suppressing means forterminating the operation of the printing mechanism.

6. A printing mechanism for office machines having a framework, aplurality of printing members each settable to a discrete one of aplurality of printing positions, a work sheet mounted in said framework,each printing member being mounted on a lever, and means for compressingprinted information on said work sheet comprismg:

(a) a first carriage in which said levers are supported for movementrelative to said work sheet,

(b) a second carriage supporting a print hammer for movement relative tosaid work sheet,

(0) engaging means for operating said hammer to successively engage eachand every one of a plurality of adjacent levers, and

(d) means operable during the operation of the hammer engaging means forcontinuously moving the first and second carriages each at a respectivecontinuous rate of speed relative to the work sheet.

7. A printing mechanism for office machines having a framework, printingmembers each carried by a respective lever, a work sheet mounted in saidframework, and means for compressing printed information on said Worksheet comprising:

(a) a first carriage in which said levers are supported for movementrelative to said Work sheet,

(b) a second carriage supporting a print hammer for movement relative tosaid work sheet,

(c) engaging means for operating said hammer to successively engage eachand every one of a plurality of adjacent levers, and

(d) means operable during the operation of the hammer engaging means forcontinuously moving the first and second carriages in differentrespective directions relative to said Work sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A PRINTING MECHANISM FOR OFFICE MACHINES HAVING A FRAMEWORK, PRINTWHEELS, EACH SETTABLE IN A PREDETERMINED CHARACTER REPRESENTATIVEPOSITION AND EACH CARRIED ON A RESPECTIVE LEVER, A WORK SHEET MOUNTED INSAID FRAMEWORK, AND MEANS FOR COMPRESSING PRINTED INFORMATION ON SAIDWORK SHEET COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST CARRIAGE IN WHICH SAID PRINT WHEELSAND LEVERS ARE SUPPORTED FOR STRAIGHT LINE LATERAL SHIFTING MOVEMENTRELATIVE TO SAID WORK SHEET, (B) A SECOND CARRIAGE SUPPORTING A PRINTHAMMER FOR STRAIGHT LINE LATERAL SHIFTING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID WORKSHEET, (C) MEANS OPERABLE TO CONTINUOUSLY MOVE THE FIRST AND SECONDCARRIAGES EACH AT A RESPECTIVE CONTINUOUS RATE OF SPEED RELATIVE TO THEWORK SHEET, AND (D) DRIVE MEANS OPERABLE CONCURRENTLY WITH SAID CARRIAGEMOVING MEANS TO DRIVE SAID HAMMER CONSECUTIVELY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITHEACH AND EVERY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT PRINT WHEEL LEVERS AND TOCAUSE EACH PRINT WHEEL TO PRINT SAID PRE-DETERMINED CHARACTER.